Bridge construction date not set despite high activity

Workers continue to remove debris from demolition required for the Beersheeba Street bridge project.

But that’s not the case.

Actual construction for a new Beersheba Street Bridge has not been funded, and Tennessee Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jennifer Flynn has no timetable on when that might happen.

‘The next phase is the construction phase, and it has not been funded for construction at this time,’ said Flynn.

Highway and bridge dollars have been tight as the federal government has rescinded $237 million in promised funding to Tennessee since December 2005. Every state has experienced such funding cuts.

Construction for the Beersheba Street Bridge was originally scheduled to start in October 2006. Plans call for one lane of the bridge to remain open while the new bridge is constructed. The new bridge will be built to the right of the current bridge as you’re driving away from downtown McMinnville.

According to construction blueprints, the total project will be about one-quarter of a mile long. It will involve altering the course of Beersheba Street beginning near Underwood True Value and ending near Barr’s Furniture. The path of Higginbotham Road and Bridge Street will also be changed.

Workers were busy Monday leveling the old Rainbow Flowers and Gifts building right next to the bridge. That property is needed to address water run-off issues.

Also scheduled to be torn down are the old TennPawn building and the garage next to it.